The Longshot
American Showplace Music

When you think of the new generation of modern day harmonica greats you certainly must include Brandon Santini on that list. With a handful of Blues Music Award nominations already in his portfolio, including two for harmonica and another for contemporary artist of the year, Santini delivers the full package as not only an instrumentalist, but also a vocalist and songwriter. The Longshot is his fourth solo recording and it just may be the best one yet.

For anyone who’s listened to Santini, from his days with Delta Highway to his current work, his music is a nice blend of rockin’ blues, filled with his outstanding harp runs and guitar work (this time courtesy of friends like Timo Arthur, Greg Gumpel, Jed Potts, and Jimmy Bennett. The selections are all original numbers that Santini wrote or co-wrote, with the lone cover track, Willie Dixon’s “Evil (Is Going On)” which sounds terrific.

This disc is guaranteed to shake your booty right from the get-go with “Don’t Come Around Here,” and Santini  takes us on a journey down various musical avenues, all of them good, throughout the album. Instrumental and especially harp stand-outs prevail on tracks like “Beggin’ Baby,” “Going Home,” and “Somebody’s Gotta Go.”

Total Time: 50:19

Don’t Come Around Here / Beggin’ Baby / One More Day / Drive You Off My Mind / Heartbreaker / Broken Bones / Back To You / My Worried Mind / Going Home / Evil (Is Going On) / Somebody’s Gotta Go

Leopard Print Dress  
Self-Released

By Randy Murphy

With a voice like aged, smoky bourbon and a band one would gladly take to war, Dee Miller’s new album, Leopard Print Dress, is a coiled rattlesnake masquerading as a record — with a quick, sweet bite.

This Minneapolis-based band is well known in its native area, and the new record deserves all the recognition it gets. Two tracks stand out: It’s probably best not to play the opening cut, “Hot and Sweaty” — a jacked-up, rollercoaster of a tune —  while cruising the freeway; Jesse Muelle’s barrel-roll piano you tempt you to speed. And the rough-hewn, dark sensuality of Miller’s vocals in “I Sing the Blues” conjures up echoes of Koko Taylor in her prime. Combine that with Steve “Boom Boom” Vandorharr’s hypnotic harmonica rifts, and this becomes heady stuff guaranteed to foster some risqué thoughts in “that midnight hour.”

The only clunker here is a cover of The Eagles’ “Take It To The Limit.” Try as she might, Miller’s unable to light any fire under this tune — not surprising given the material; most soulless rock ballads, like wet leaves, resist ignition.

Overall, this is intoxicating, dangerous, and visceral music overflowing with first-rate musicianship.

Total Time: 53:57

Hot And Sweaty / Strongest Weakness / Take It To The Limit / Leopard Print Dress / Back In The Saddle / Last Two Dollars / I Sing The Blues / Midnight In Harlem / Black Cat Bone / Steppin’

The Angels In Heaven Done Signed My Name
Easy Eye Sound

Though Leo “Bud” Welch had performed most of his life, he truly didn’t find recognition outside of Mississippi until he released his first recording, Sabougla Voices, in 2014 at the age of 81. His musical style has always been gospel blues, as easily noted with the title of his latest release The Angels In Heaven Done Signed My Name.

Welch traveled from Mississippi to Nashville to record the album with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and his current band The Arcs. The tracks were all recorded live and cover a number of well-known selections such as Blind Willie Johnson’s “Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed,” “I Want To Be At The Meeting” and “Don’t Let The Devil Ride.” Like many of his contemporaries from the North Mississippi Hill Country and Delta area, Welch’s approach is the traditional for the most part, basic guitar and vocals, but often takes on a little livelier step in rhythm as on “I Come To Praise His Name” or “Let It Shine” backed by organ and steel guitar. He is a musician whose name belongs next to the likes of Fred McDowell, Junior Kimbrough, RL Burnside, and Jimmy “Duck” Holmes.

Unfortunately, not long after making this recording Welch passed away. But apparently there were some thirty tracks done during the sessions, only of which ten appear here. So just maybe we’re not done hearing more from this late to be discovered master. The Angels In Heaven Done Signed My Name is a disc that shines at bringing the traditional with the modern.

Total Time: 26:09

I Know I Been Changed / Jesus Is on the Mainline / Don’t Let the Devil Ride / I Come to Praise His Name / Walk With Me Lord / Right on Time / I Want to Be at the Meeting / I Wanna Die Easy / Let It Shine / Sweet Home

Live In London
Anti-Records

By Greg Johnson

When it comes to soul and gospel vocalists, does it get any better than Mavis Staples? It would be pretty tough to come up with anybody with as fine a resume. Mavis has worked professionally for seventy years, since before she was ten years old, and alongside her family in the Staple Singers, she was the voice of civil rights and social injustices, delivering a peaceful, non-threatening message of hope and redemption.

Mavis has released four albums over the past decade, working with a plethora of talented songwriters. Focusing on those numbers for the most part on her first live recording in ten years, she still shows that she has a lot to say politically and spreading the voice of love.

Backed by an all-star outfit that is led by guitarist Rick Holmstrom and includes drummer Stephen Hodges and bass player Jeff Turmes, with vocalists Donny Gerard and vicki Randle, Mavis and the group present songs written by the likes of Ben Harper, Benjamin Booker, Jeff Tweedy, M. Ward, George Clinton, Curtis Mayfield, and The Talking Heads. And not to leave her early days out of the mix, there is a Pops Staples number, too (“What You Gonna Do”).

Many of these songs fit directly into the current atmosphere of our times. “Slippery People” had been previously covered by The Staple Singers back in 1984, but it can easily depict the type of politics running our country now. There is no mistaking the theme she visualizes in “No Time For Cryin’” that she co-wrote with Tweedy, speaking about motherless children who have been removed from their families as refugees. The selections clearly define her social stances, but through it all she brings the end of the show with a light of hope with Little Milton’s “We’re Gonna Make It” and another Staple Singers piece “Touch A Hand (Make A Friend).”

Recorded over two nights in London at Union Chapel, this is a firm notice that Mavis Staples still can command a performance and she is not shying away from her social stances as she has done for seven decades. At 79 years, she is still the leader of that human march because she wants every one to know that “You Are Not Alone.” Excellent show by a legendary singer.

Total Time: 56:30

Love And Trust / Who Told You That / Slippery People / What You Gonna Do Intro / What You Gonna Do / Take Us Back / You Are Not Alone / No Time For Cryin’ / Can You Get To That / Let’s Do It Again / Dedicated / We’re Gonna Make It / Encore: Happy Birthday / Touch A Hand

Salvation Road
Never Lucky Records

By Greg Johnson

Rich Layton, a first-hand veteran of the Houston Gulf Coast scene has been plying that same authentic sound in the Portland area for many years. Layton’s a sly songwriter who just happens to be a powerful harmonica player, vocalist, and strong live front man. Salvation Road is his first release since the 2011 Tough Town album, with eleven jumping tracks, all but one of which Layton had his hand in composing.

His band features a trio of exceptional musicians, with Larry McCoy absolutely sizzling on guitar, Eric “Haus” Krabbenhoft offering bass beats as big as his nickname, and Charles Pike driving the bunch with heart-racing chops and shuffles. Add into the mix unbelievable guests including Teresa James, Jon Koonce, Chris Mercer and Terry Wilson and you’ve got the makings of what will certainly be hailed as one of the best party discs of 2019.

I really love the turn of phrases throughout the selections. They can be quirky and clever, and will make you smile more than once. In “Sorry Don’t Cut It” he describes that there’s a politician crying on the evening news, there’s crocodile tears on his alligator shoes. Or in “Dollars To Donuts” he’ll bet you dollars to donuts that she gets what she wants and leaves you only the crumbs. Great visualization and imagery for sure. And there’s a lot of philosophy behind the words too, as in “Show Me What You’re Working With”: Love is the hardest job two people will ever do, but  if you have the right tools baby, I’m ready to work with you, so show me what you’re working with.

For long time fans the inclusion of the popular “The Dude Abides” has finally made it to disc. The only cover song on the album is the closing number from Gerry Goffin and Carole King, best known by the recording by Taj Mahal, “Take A Giant Step.” The band knows how deliver this song exactly as it should sound and it is the perfect way to close the album.

Salvation Road is well worth the eight year wait. Filled full of swampy good times and follows directly by Rich’s words that he will live to rock another day. Many more hopefully as this disc kicks butt and more!

Total Time: 49:20

Live To Rock / Salvation Road / Raise It Up / Wake-up Call / Show Me What You’re Workin’ With / Dollars To Donuts / Sorry Don’t Cut It / Two Hearts / The Dude Abides / Soul Divided / Take A Giant Step